Earth boring drill



Oct. 27, 1936. Q E REED EARTH BORING DRILL Filed 001'.. 6, 1954 NVENTOR f Y Clazgez ceEZeed Y fw Mmm/04( ATTORN EYS.

Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT lOFFICE EARTH BORING -DBILL Clarence E. Reed, Wichita, Kans., assignor to Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation olNew Jene! 'application october s. 1934, serial No. 'mess 27 Claims.

after described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing 4 Figure 1 is a view of a bit head with the roller cutter assembly partly in side elevation and partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

In the drawing I indicates a bit head having an upper cylindrical portion internally screw threaded at 2 for attachment to the drill lstern or pipe, and having also depending arms 3 which are provided with downwardlyand outwardly inclined walls 4 on their inner sides. These arms or depending portions ci the blt head are spaced apart from each other, and the main recess lI5 between thesearms opens out laterally of the bit head. A hanger 6 is' welded at lits -upper portion to the exterior of the bit head,`

where it fits into a slot opening outwardly through the wall of the 'said head. This hanger is arranged centrallyof the'bit head and extends transversely oi the recess 5, At its lower portion the hanger is providedV with bosses 1, one of which is illustrated in section at' theleit-handside of the vertical axis of the drill in Fig. 1. On these bosses are mounted bearing members 8, one of which is shown attire left pf Fig'. 1., it Amanganderstood that a similar boss and bearing member areiused at the right-hand side of the hanger in Fig. 1. I'his bearing member Il is secured by pin l to the hanger. It is provided witha raceway Il f receiving anti-friction bearings,. which are in the form of cylindrical rollers. On these vanti-(iijction bearings vertical rotary toothed cutters II are mounted.

The bearing member hasa flange I2 at its outer side which engages a recessed shoulder I3 on the rotary cutter at theouter side face thereof, so that said cutter will be'heldby said ilange with its inner face at Il bearing upon the face of the hanger so that this roller cutter will -be maintained to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the vertical axisof the drill. The roller bearings in the raceway f the bearing members also work in a complementary raceway of the vertically disposed roller cutters, said roller bearings havingtheir inner ends against the side wall of the central hanger so that they will be maintained in proper position.

Side roller cutters I5 are arranged at opposite sides of the drill head inclining downwardly and outwardly parallel with the inner inclined walls 4 of the depending arms or portions 3 of the bit head. These side roller cutters are intended to cut the area adjacent the wall of the hole, andv they maintain the gauge of the hole of a diameter slightly greater than that of the maximum width ofthe bit head so as to provide clearance. These side'roller cutters are mounted on spindles, one of which is shown at I6, inclining downwardly and inwardly from supporting members I1 which are provided with Shanks I8 lying in recesses I9' of the depending arms of the bit head, wherein said shanks may be welded to hold the spindles and the side roller cutters in position.

The inner ends of the spindles are seated in sockets la. of the bearing members 8 so that these spindles are supported against. the working stresses by having their inner ends mounted in Vthe bearing members, which, in turn, are mounted on opposite sides of the central hanger. All' of the'roller -cutters have their axes in the same vertical plane passing through the vertical axis of the drill, and the cutters are `so disposed and are of such size as to cut substantiallythe entire fares at the bottom of the hole. p

The centrally disposed cutters II are of comy paratively large diameter in respect to the diameter-ot the side roller cutters, and it will be noticed that the bearing members 8 are recessed iat I9 to receive the upper portion of theside roller cutter.

This side roller cutter is conned between the bearing member l and the iiange 20 of thesup'-, port I1, the side faces of said side roller cutter bearing-'respectively upon the outer side face of bearing member, and the inner side face of the base or'iiange k2II of the spindle.

Roller bearings 2| are arranged between the side'roller cutters and the spindles, and these roller bearings are confined in place in the direction of their axes by the faces of the bearing members l `and of the base or liange 20 of the spindle. 'The larger diametercutters II have their axes in a horizontal .plane somewhat above the horizontal plane cutting the axes 'of the side roller cutters so that the lower cutting peripheries of these larger diameters central cutters project but slightly below the plane of the lower 22 defining the upper end of said notch and this notch receives the outer portion of the spindle member.

All the parts of the cutter assembly, including the central hanger, the bearing blocks 8, with the cutters mounted thereon, the spindles with their shanks and the side roller cutters can be put together and then inserted into place within the bit headl as one unit, by a movement along the vertical axis of the drill head.

It will be observed that the removable bearing member 8 is of plate-like form. It has a circular peripheral portion to serve as a bearing for the roller cutter H, and its opposite side faces are recessed as described.

I claim:

1. An earth boring drill comprising a drill head having. a recess in its lower face provided with downwardly and outwardly inclined walls, peripherally toothed cylindrical side roller cutters inclining downwardly and outwardly for cutting an annular-area at'the side wall of the hole including clearance for the bit head, spindles for said cutters inclining downwardly and inwardly from the inclined side walls of Ithe bit head, a hanger depending from the bit head and centrally of the said recess therein, a pair of cutters on coincident axes, perpendicular to the vertical axis oi' the drill, and of larger diameter than the side cutters and cuttingI an annular area between that cut by the side cutters andl the vertical axis of the drill, means for rotatably supporting the center cutters on opposite sides of the hanger the axes of all the cutters being in the same vertical plane with the side cutters at the side faces ofthe center cutters, said cutters cutting the entire area at the bottom of the hole.

2. An earth boring drill according to claim 1 in which said means includes a separate bearing member attached at each side of the hanger, said bearing members supporting the inner ends oi' the spindles of the side cutters.

3. An earth boring drill according to claim 1 in which the central hanger has a boss formed integrally therewith on each siderthereof, and said means includes a bearing member mounted on each boss, said bearing members supporting the inner ends of the spindles of the side cutters at their inner ends.

4. In an earth boring drill a bit head, adetachable hanger depending from said head cen-trally thereof, said hanger having on its opposite sides laterally extending bosses, bearing members mounted on said bosses and having raceways for anti-friction bearings, and having also flanges on their outer sides, said raceways being closed at their inner sides by the wall of the hanger, roller cutters mountd on said bearings and retained thereon by the flanges, said cutters being recessed to receive the flanges, and having complementary raceways for the anti-friction bearings, side roller cutters, spindles therefor, having supports detachably mounted in the bit head, the

inner ends of said spindles being mounted in the,

said bearings, substantially as described.

5. In combination a bit head having a recess at its lower end, a roller cutter unit having a hanger attached at its upper part to the bit head and located substantially centrally of said recess, a separate bearing member fitting against and attached at each side of the lower partv of said hangerand having two recesses in its outer face,

one forreceiving the inner end of a cutter spindie and the other for receiving the upper portion of a cutter mounted on said spindle, said bearing member having a downwardly and outwardly inclined face below said upper recess.

6. An earth boring drill according to claim 1 in which the cutters mounted on the hanger have their axes in a horizontal plane above a plane cutting the uppermost portion of the spindles of the side cutters.

'7. In an earth boring drill, a bit head, a centrally disposed hanger depending from the under side of the head, a bearing member disposed on a side of the hanger and interengaging with the hanger to be supported thereby, said bearing member providing a bearing surface for rotatably mounting a center cutter, and a side cutter carrier secured to the bit head and having an inwardly extending spindle, said spindle engaging with said bearing member to retain it against and in interengaging relation with the centrally disposed hanger, and roller cutters on the bearing member and spindle.

8. In an earth boring drill, a bit head, av centrally'disposed hanger depending from the under side of the head and having laterally extending bosses projecting from the opposite sides thereof, bearing members positioned on said bosses to be supported thereby, said bearing members providing bearing surfaces for rotatably mounting center cutters, and side cutter carriers secured to the bit head substantially radially outward from said bosses, said carriers each having an inwardly extending spindle engaging with the adjacent bearing member to retain it against and in interengaging relation 4with the centrally disposed hanger, and roller cutters on the bearing members and spindles.

9. In an earth boring drill, a bit head, a centrally disposed depending hanger removably connected at its upper portion to the bit head, laterallyl yextending bosses projecting from the opposite ysides of the lower portion of the hanger,

bearing members positioned on the bosses to be supported thereby, said bearing members having an outer flange and a raceway between the ange and the wall ofthe hanger, roller cutters mounted on the bearing members and having a -raceway and anti-friction bearings between said raceways, said flanges retaining the anti-friction bearings and roller cutters in position, the outer faces of I said bearing members having inclined portions with recesses therein, side cutter spindles extending into said recesses and perpendicularly from said inclined face portions, side roller cutters mounted upon said spindles and cutting an area including clearance for the bit head, and supports for the outer ends of said spindles extending upwardly and connected at their upper portions to the bit head.

10. A cutter assembly for earth boring drills comprising a hanger having means at its upper portion for attachment to a bit head and having a laterally extending boss projecting from its lower portion, a`bearing member positionedgon said boss and supported thereby, said bearing member providing a bearing surface for rotatably mounting a center cutter and said bearing member having a recess in its outer face, aside cutter spindle having its inner end seated in the recess of the bearing member, a support connected.

to the outer end of said side spindle and extending upwardlyy independently of said hanger. forv tion by attachment of said support and hanger to a bit head.

11. In an earth boring drill a bit head having a recess in its lower face dened by dependingr walls, the inner faces of which incline downwardly and outwardly in respect to the vertical axis of the drill, a hanger depending from the bit head vertically of said space, separate bearing members at thel side of the hanger with means between said bearing members and hanger whereby said nearing members are supported by said hanger, said bearing members having each an outer face inclining downwardly and outwardly in respect to the vertical axis of the drill, roller cutters mounted on said bearing member with their axes substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the drill, hangers mounted on the depending walls of the bit head and having spindles extending downwardly and inwardly towards the central hanger, saidhangers having iianges at the outer ends of the spindles adjacent the depending walls of the blt head, the inner ends of said spindles being supported by the said bearing members, and toothed side roller cutters mounted on the spindles and conned between said flanges and the inclined side faces of the bearing members, said side cutter inclining downwardly and outwardly in respect to the vertical axis of the drill, and cutting on the bottom of the hole and clearance for the bit head, substantially as described. A

12. A removable plate-like bearing member for a roller cutter of an earth boring drill having on one side a laterally open recess disposed about a substantially horizontal axis to receive a boss of a hanger on which said bearing member is to be supported, said bearing member having on its opposite outer side a recess for receiving a part of a roller cutter and defined in part by an outwardly and downwardly inclined face, and a bearing recess in said inclined face to removably receive a spindle of said last mentioned roller cutter, the periphery of the plate-like bearing member providing a bearing surface for rotatably receiving a roller cutter, the axis of said spindle recess being inclined to the axis of the bearing surface substantially as described.

13. A bearing member according Ito claim 12 having a iiange for retaining the rst mentioned roller cutter on said bearing surface, `substantially as described.

14. An earth boring drill comprising a bit head, a pair of center cutters disposed at the lower face of said head, with the members of said pair` on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the drill and vadjacent thereto, with their axes coincident and perpendicular to the vertical axis of the drill, said cutters being of equal diameters and each cutting an area over the major portion of the full diameter of the hole being bored, and side roller cutters inclining downwardly and outwardly from the outer side faces of the center cutters and of smaller diameter than the saidy center cutters, said side roller cutters extending at. their lower portions beyond the periphery of the bit head, cutting on the bottom of the hole and cutting clearance for the drill, substantially as described.

15. An earth boring drill according to claim 14 in which the upper portions of each side roller cutter extends to a point 'between the vertical planes between which the adjacent center cutter lies, substantially as described. y

16. A roller cutter earth boring drill comprising relatively large diameter roller cutters positioned adjacent the axis ci.' rotation of the drill,

and side roller cutters of smaller diameter positioned for cutting an annular path including clearance for the drill, said side roller cutters extending at their lower portions beyond the periphery of the bit head and having their axes inclined to the axis of rotation of the drill, all cutter,

axes being in the same diametrical plane of the drill.

1'7. A roller cutter earth boring drill according to claim 16 in which the central cutter of relatively large diameter has its outer face recessed and the upper portion of the side cutter is positioned within said recess.

18. A roller boring drill according to claim 16, in which the relatively large cutter is mounted with its axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drill and the side cutter associated therewith has its axis inclined thereto.

19. In an' earth boring drill, a plate-like bearing member of circular shape of comparatively large diameter the periphery thereof providing a bearing surface for a roller cutter, and a spindle for another roller cutter projecting outwardly and upwardly from a side face thereof with respect to the peripheral bearing surface,A said bearing being recessed in its side to clear said other cutter.

20. An earth boring drill according to claim 19 in which the bearing member has an outer integral ange resisting end thrust of the cutter thereon outwardly from the axisof rotation of the drill said flange being .on the opposite side of the bearing from a recess in the bearing to receive a boss upon which the bearing is mounted.

21. A roller cutter assembly according to claim 19 in which said spindle has at its outer end an enlargementY formed integral therewith, said enlargement receiving end thrusts of rolling bearings and a side roller cutter on said spindle.

22. A roller'eutter unit for earth boring drills comprising a relatively large diameter roller cutter positioned adjacent the axis of rotation of the drill, a bearing on which said cutter turns, a member supporting said bearing, an inclined roller cutter, a spindle therefor, rolling bearings between the spindle and inclined roller cutter, said cutter and bearing being recessed in their outer sides to clear the top portion of said inclined lroller cutter, said spindle projecting outwardly 23. In a roller boring drill, two relatively large I diameter centrally positioned roller cutters for disintegrating the bottom of the bore hole, and two inclined side roller cutters of lesser diameter positioned with their upper portions within the plane of the recessed sides of the large cutters, the axes of all cutters being in the same vertical diametrical plane through the drill axis, and the axes of the side cutters being below the horizontal plane of the axes of the large cutters.

24. An earth boring drill comprising a drill head having a depending wall with its inner face inclining downwardly and outwardly, a roller cut--I ter of comparatively large diameter, a hanger for supporting said cutter below the bit head, a bearing member on which said roller cutter turns, having interlocking engagement with the hanger,

and having a recess ln its outer face, the axis of which inclines upwardly and outwardly, a spindle having its inner end seated in the recess of the bearing, which bearing has a downwardly and outwardly inclined outer face, a aide roller cutter on said spindle, said spindle at its outer end having a nange to bear on the outwardly and downwardly inclined inner face of the depending wall .of the drin head. said'wau having a downwardly open notch, a support for the spindle seatedin said notch and having an upwardly extending stem for attachment with the bit head, rolling bearings on the spindle confined between theinclined face of the bearing and the said flange, rolling bearings between the cutter of comparatively large diameter and the bearing member, said bearing member being held in interlocking engagement with the hanger by the spindle of said side roller cutter, and said last mentioned rolling bearings being retained in place by said vbearing member and by the side wall of said hanger, substantially as described.

25. An earth boring drill comprising a onewhereby to out clearance for the bit head, a pair oi. l

intermediate cutters mounted at a horizontal axis on opposite sides of the drillaxis, the axes of all cutters being in the same vertical plane which includes the drill axis, bearings for said cutters, and means for supporting said bearings, said cutters, bearings and supporting means being adapted to be handled as a unit and as such connected to and detached from the bit head by movement l5 in a direction along the axis oi' the drill.

26. An earth boring drill according to claim 25 in which said cutters cooperate to cut the entire area of the hole.

27. An earth boring drill according to claim 25 in which all cutters are of substantially cylindrical shape.

CLARENCE E. REED. 

